VITAMINS
In a bid to raise awareness of the importance of vitamin D, NHS Western Isles recently launched three short fi lms on vitamin D in childhood.
Featuring local children and adults from the Butt to Barra, the fi lms were created to bring some playfulness to an otherwise unexciting subject, with some light-hearted and humorous results. Using adults whose voices are dubbed by children, each of the fi lms delivers its own vitamin D message: The importance of vitamin D; How do I get my vitamin D?; and The Healthy Start Scheme.
‘The Western Isles MIN Strategy Group offers free Healthy Start Pregnancy tablets to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, which are available from their Midwife or Health Visitor,’ said Emelin Collier, Chair of the Western Isles Maternal & Information Nutrition (MIN) Strategy Group. ‘Adults are also recommended to take a single daily vitamin D supplement, whilst for older adults, a single daily vitamin D supplement with added calcium may be recommended to protect against osteoporosis.’
Innovative clinic provides support FULTIUM DAILY D3
Fultium Daily D3 is a new high quality pharmaceutical grade vitamin D supplement that has been formulated specifi cally to meet the Scientifi c Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s (SACN) and Public Health England’s (PHE) new recommended guidelines.
Given the diffi culty in obtaining vitamin D from dietary sources alone, and the fact that prescriptions are usually for higher strengths as a treatment for defi ciency, the new guidelines present pharmacy with an excellent opportunity to recommend an OTC supplement.
Pharmacy teams can take advantage of CPD training and literature available now. Go to
www.fultiumdailyd3.co.uk to update your knowledge or contact Thornton & Ross on 01484 848200 for more information.
Vitamin D for pregnant and lactating women is also a concern for Elizabeth Roddick, pharmacist and owner of New Life Pharmacy, who has been running a vitamin D clinic for the people of Netherlee, South Glasgow for the past two years.
‘While it’s great to see that more and more people are taking vitamin D - with great results - I am worried that there are still plenty of pregnant and breastfeeding women, who are not being advised by healthcare professionals to take the vitamin.
‘The Chief Medical Offi cers of the various UK regions recently reiterated the statement that pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should supplement with vitamin D; primarily because rickets, a disease where softening of the bones occurs, has reappeared across the UK. This condition is as a direct result of vitamin D defi ciency and is easily prevented by making sure blood levels are adequate. That’s where I feel the pharmacist has a vital role to play in advising pregnant and lactating women on the benefi ts of vitamin D.’
Elizabeth launched her vitamin D clinic
two years ago as a result of both her own research into the subject and the marked increase in the number of patients who were coming into the pharmacy and asking for the product.
‘Vitamin D defi ciency is a known problem in Scotland,’ Elizabeth told SP, ‘and I initially started the clinic because I wanted to raise awareness of this and offer solutions to tackling the issue.
‘I had become increasingly aware of the growing interest in the benefi ts of vitamin D, particularly from our patients, who were coming into the pharmacy asking for it. Vitamin D features quite regularly in the local newspapers in Netherlee, and so our patients are pretty well informed about it.
‘Then, in April of this year, I gave a talk on ‘In need of sunshine’ at the Edinburgh Science Festival and
Following recommendations from the Scientifi c Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), Scottish Government advice on vitamin D for all age groups has been updated as follows:
FROM SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR
Infants from six months to one year of age, whether exclusively or partially breastfed, should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5-10 micrograms vitamin D.
Babies fed infant formula should not be given a vitamin D supplement unless they are receiving less than 500 mls (about a pint) of formula a day because formula is fortifi ed with vitamin D and no other supplementation is required.
AGES ONE-FOUR YEARS
Children aged one-four years of age should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms vitamin D.
AGES FIVE YEARS AND ABOVE Everyone aged fi ve years and
16 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST
afterwards there was a defi nite buzz about the subject. At the festival Dr Helga Rhein, who is a GP in Sighthill, Edinburgh, and an expert in vitamin D, had spoken, along with three other experts about raising the profi le of vitamin D in dementia, cancer and heart disease, and, since then, I have been working closely with Dr Rhein to raise awareness of vitamin D in the general public.
‘I honestly believe that vitamin D supplementation is required for most people, but, because there are certain people who shouldn’t take it in addition to a wide range of doses available, it can be confusing. Advice needs to be available when purchasing the products and that’s where I believe that my vitamin D clinic can be of great use. Patients are guided through doses and they know that I’m there to answer any questions that they might have.’ •
above, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and population groups at risk of defi ciency, should consume 10 micrograms of vitamin D/day.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Everyone, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D. Between April and September, the majority of people aged fi ve years and above will probably obtain suffi cient vitamin D from sunlight when they are outdoors. They might choose not to take a vitamin D supplement during these months.
The current guidance on sun exposure should be followed: ten-fi fteen minutes of unprotected Scottish sun exposure is safe for all. Once sunscreen is correctly applied, vitamin D synthesis is blocked. Staying in the sun for prolonged periods without the protection of sunscreen increases the risk of skin cancer.
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